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Garage Lifts

While I was working on my car yesterday I was thinking about how much I hate rolling around on the ground and not being able to easy get at things or get good leverage and I figured I'd look into getting a lift.

I'm looking for a 2 post lift with a base plate and around a 8000-10,000lb capacity and I'd like to keep it under $2500 US if possible.
I've tried to do a little research and one of the more budget friendly brands (<$2000) that seems to be popular is the Atlas, although their customer service is a general complaint. I've also seen good things about Direct-Lift, and Eagle. The next tier up would be Dannmar or BendPak although their lifts start around the $2700-2900 range.

I was wondering if anyone has any experience or advice on specific brands such as which ones are good, which ones to avoid?

Re: Garage Lifts

I'm guessing that's one of the 11-12' ones with the overhead bar? As much as I want one of those our garage is just over 9' tall so I have to stick with the shorter base plate style ones.

Does it flex at all with the truck on there? I'm sure I'd have to work on my dad's mega cab cummins and I think it would be getting close to the limit for the lift

How/where did you get yours? Did you pick it up from one of the warehouses in the states or did you have it shipped to the border or to Canada? The 1400b shipping weight sounds like fun without a forklift.

Did you have to do anything special for the concrete pad? I know they say they require 4" of concrete with 3000psi but I've heard of people just using their existing concrete. I'm not sure what we have currently in our garage but I'm sure I could find out.

Re: Garage Lifts

Just my personal opinion but I don't think I would bother if you've only got 9' of height.. Too bad the building is up, 3 rows of concrete block would have gone a long way.. I mean I guess you would be on the ok side with the bmw but as far as working on a truck goes forget it

Garage Lifts

Yeah unfortunately it was built over 10 years ago and I didn't know I would be into cars, as much as I am, at that point and I still wasn't even close to driving.

As for the height, I figure the BMWs the are just over 4' so I'd be able to get close to 5' of room underneath. While I'd like 6', so I can stand up completely, I might just have to make due.

I also have the option of building an addition to the garage that would be tall enough for an overhead lift. I might go with this option but obviously it would cost quite a bit more and would take a little while longer. I'll probably take my time before I make a final decision, it all depends on if a flex fuel kit comes out for my or not